Schools hold tributes for APS martyrs

Events include one-minute silence, candlelight vigils, tableaux and prayers

RAWALPINDI:

Special commemorative events were held in government and private schools across Rawalpindi in remembrance of the Army Public School (APS) Peshawar tragedy on Tuesday.

Early in the morning, school assemblies observed a one-minute silence to honour the 147 children who lost their lives in the grisly attack. Teachers highlighted the incident and provided detailed briefings to students about the atrocity.

Parents anxiously awaited their children at home, unaware that their young ones had been martyred. The APS tragedy cast a sombre mood across schools. Students paid tribute by lighting candles and presenting tableaux that reflected the events of that fateful day. The emotional displays brought tears to the eyes of many parents. Major schools also held Guards of Honour in memory of the martyred children.

Parents, teachers, and students collectively demanded that the real perpetrators of the APS attack be brought to justice and punished appropriately. The tragedy remains etched in the hearts of students and parents alike.

Under the auspices of the Education Department, the largest APS memorial event was held at Government Muslim Higher Secondary School No 1, Rawalpindi. The ceremony aimed to pay tribute to the innocent children and teachers who lost their lives and to offer prayers for their spiritual elevation.

The special guest of honour, Ziaullah Shah, Member of the Punjab Provincial Assembly, along with education officials, teachers, students, and local dignitaries, participated in the event.

Tariq Mehmood, Chief Executive Officer of the District Education Authority Rawalpindi, said in his address that the entire nation has made great sacrifices against terrorism. He added that the sacrifices of the APS martyrs will never be forgotten. Their martyrdom united the nation and strengthened its resolve to stand together against enemies. He praised the sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces and security agencies, noting that their efforts have established an environment of peace and stability in the country.

The special guest also paid tribute to the APS martyrs, describing the tragedy as a deep wound on the nation's heart, while emphasizing that the sacrifices of these children have built a strong wall of resilience against terrorism.

The event concluded with collective prayers for the APS martyrs, seeking elevation of their ranks, patience and solace for their families, and peace and prosperity for Pakistan.

Policy implementation urged

Participants speaking at a roundtable discussion on the evolving counterterrorism response of Pakistan and the challenges of cross-border terrorism organized by the Institute of Regional Studies (IRS) in the backdrop of the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Army Public School (APS) discussion emphasised the need for effective implementation of national security policies and developing a sustained narrative against terrorist violence.

The heinous attack had claimed the lives of 147 innocent students and teachers on December 16, 2014, and remains the bloodiest and most painful in the country's history, as six terrorists wearing military uniforms entered the school premises and indiscriminately fired at students, teachers and staff.

At least 147 people, including 122 students, embraced martyrdom, while the school's principal, Tahira Qazi and teacher Sofia Hijab were also martyred in the attack. President Asif Ali Zardari, in a statement issued on the 11th anniversary of the tragedy, said that Pakistan's commitment to defeating terrorism was absolute and reiterated that there could be no soft corner for terrorists or those who supported, financed, sheltered or justified them.

"There can be no negotiations with those who raise arms against the state or target our children," said the President of Pakistan while remembering the martyrs on the 11th anniversary of the incident. He said that the memory of the APS martyrs strengthened their resolve.